tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2463208432838324082018-03-05T15:07:14.104-08:00On This Pale, Pale MoonChristopher Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629274850410022241noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246320843283832408.post-12792123395386449322010-08-07T15:34:00.000-07:002010-08-07T20:42:51.178-07:00Pastiche<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Pastiche:</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">- medley, a musical composition consisting of a series of songs or other musical pieces from various sources</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">- a work of art that imitates the style of some previous work</span><br /><br />I used to be in a band called Pastiche. &nbsp;It only lasted about a year and half but it was to this day probably my favorite band experience because of how functional it was. &nbsp;In the time we were a band we recorded two EP's. &nbsp;Pastiche was all about how to appeal to our listeners so the melodies were fairly simple and the lyrics were colorful. &nbsp;Leif at the time had been listening to a lot of Interpol and it's obvious; especially in the first EP titled Street Life. &nbsp;To us, that was okay because having a band named Pastiche meant that we were trying to take from our favorite artists and mold into something of our own. &nbsp;We did&nbsp;receive some&nbsp;criticism but the positive energy we got by far weighed out the bad. &nbsp;We managed to get&nbsp;a lot of people to come to shows, we sold plenty of merchandise and got a great name around Bellingham. &nbsp; It's a bit of a shame that we disbanded but half the band was leaving Bellingham and moving on with their life. &nbsp;It was a fun ride and I've learned a lot about how to run a band successfully.<br /><br />I created a Bandcamp profile for Pastiche so that anyone that wants to can listen and download all of the Pastiche library for FREE! &nbsp;If you like it, feel free to share it. &nbsp; <br /><br /><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="100" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer.swf/album=3381579654/size=venti/bgcol=FFFFFF/linkcol=4285BB/" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="never" /><param name="allowNetworking" value="always" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer.swf/album=3381579654/size=venti/bgcol=FFFFFF/linkcol=4285BB/" width="400" height="100" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality=high allowScriptAccess=never allowNetworking=always wmode=transparent bgcolor=#FFFFFF ></embed><noembed><a href="http://pastiche.bandcamp.com/album/rabbits-ep">Move Out Of The Suburbs by Pastiche</a></noembed></object><br /><div><br /></div>Christopher Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629274850410022241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246320843283832408.post-21601939776670320592010-08-01T18:10:00.000-07:002010-08-01T18:14:37.058-07:00Great WavesOne of the great things about meeting/living/knowing great musicians is that you never who you're going to meet. &nbsp;A few weeks ago I stumbled out of my room from a quick afternoon nap when I heard voices in my living room. &nbsp;It was Sarah my roommate and three strangers to me that happened to be the majority of the band Great Waves. &nbsp;At this point their name and music was alien to me but we all hung out and walked to New York Pizza in Bellingham. &nbsp;They drove up from&nbsp;Issaquah&nbsp;to meet with Sarah and discuss some of their new songs that they were putting together for their upcoming EP that they're going to record this month. &nbsp;In case you're not up on local music, Great Waves won first place in the EMP Sound Off this year. &nbsp;This was all news to me to me.<br /><br />After pizza, we all sat and down in our music room and played some of the songs they working on. &nbsp;The thing that stuck out to me was the alternate tunings that Will Holmes used on his guitar. &nbsp;I use alternate tunings as well so naturally I was intrigued by Will's methods as he's a very great guitar player. &nbsp;The next thing that appealed to me was the vocal style of Ashley Bullock. &nbsp;Her style to me, has hints of Jonsi from Sigur Ros who is one of my favorite singers. &nbsp;She has an amazing way of pulling out very flavorful notes and melodies within the song that aren't immediately noticeable. &nbsp;I couldn't help but wonder who these nice and very talented people were.<br /><br />When they left I pulled up their Band Camp site and listened to their songs and it was very impressed with the quality of the songwriting and the production. &nbsp;They have released two EP's from a professional studio and are working on a third one to come out before their Bumbershoot show on September 4th. &nbsp;I also learned that they are playing in the slot right before Idiot Pilot that day. &nbsp;So it'll be really cool to play such a fantastic show with them. &nbsp;Without further adieu, here is a live video from their winning EMP set and a link to their Band Camp site to which you can not only listen to their songs in full, but also download them and your own price. &nbsp;I have been playing their two releases almost everyday and I really have been enjoying it. &nbsp;I encourage you to please donate to this fantastic band. &nbsp;Enjoy!<br /><br /><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="100" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer.swf/album=3456895922/size=venti/bgcol=FFFFFF/linkcol=4285BB/" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="never" /><param name="allowNetworking" value="always" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer.swf/album=3456895922/size=venti/bgcol=FFFFFF/linkcol=4285BB/" width="400" height="100" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality=high allowScriptAccess=never allowNetworking=always wmode=transparent bgcolor=#FFFFFF ></embed><noembed><a href="http://great-waves.com/album/at-the-bottom-of-the-well">Sleepers by Great Waves</a></noembed></object><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/SkE6nwPGnx8&amp;color1=0xb1b1b1&amp;color2=0xd0d0d0&amp;hl=en_US&amp;feature=player_embedded&amp;fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SkE6nwPGnx8&amp;color1=0xb1b1b1&amp;color2=0xd0d0d0&amp;hl=en_US&amp;feature=player_embedded&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Christopher Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629274850410022241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246320843283832408.post-44947283447984223052010-07-23T11:44:00.000-07:002010-07-23T11:44:02.284-07:00Summary What I've Been Up ToMomentum is gaining since I decided to pursue music as a career a little over a&nbsp;year ago. &nbsp;I have a long way to go yet, but have surely been making great progress. &nbsp;Realizing this,&nbsp;I felt it appropriate to post because I haven't done it in a while.<br /><br />Since the&nbsp;beginning&nbsp;of 2010, I've done three drum tracking sessions for bands including Post Human Era and Idiot Pilot. &nbsp;I'm really excited to hear the results because some fun ideas were experimented with. &nbsp;Yesterdays session I recorded an hour and half of different beats and&nbsp;rhythms&nbsp;at different tempos for Idiot Pilot so Dan and&nbsp;Mike&nbsp;can build songs around it. &nbsp;Similar to what Blink-182 did for their self titled release in 2003.<br /><br />It's hard to believe that it's been exactly four months today from when I went SXSW with Idiot Pilot this past March. &nbsp;It was five days of constant&nbsp;sensory stimulation, crazy experiences and amazing bands. &nbsp;I hope to go again next year.<br /><br />What revamped my rebirth of musical drive over a year ago was the yearn to create songs, not just play drums. &nbsp;I have so many ideas recorded and I recently went through them and picked out a solid eight to embellish and make into and EP. &nbsp;All writing and arranging will be done at the end of August or earlier if possible.<br /><br />On September 4th, Idiot Pilot will be playing at Bumbershoot in Seattle. &nbsp;Being a Seattle native, I have never been to Bumbershoot and I think it's a little funny that my first&nbsp;experience there will be performing. &nbsp;That day Neko Case is performing and I'm almost more excited about that then performing! &nbsp;She is one of my favorite artists and I guess one of the perks of performing is that you get side stage passes. &nbsp;I don't even know how to express my excitement for that. &nbsp;Bob Dylan is also&nbsp;performing, I've never been a fan of Mr. Dylan but it'll be great to see him just to say I have.<br /><br />That's all for now, but more exciting things to come!Christopher Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629274850410022241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246320843283832408.post-155701710371675222010-06-19T12:51:00.000-07:002010-07-01T10:10:47.703-07:00Los Angeles - The Ghost And The GraceWhile the upcoming album is getting done, this song has emerged! &nbsp;Just to let you know that we're still here. &nbsp;It was cool to be&nbsp;approached by Daniel out of the blue about this new song, give him a couple round of mixing notes and then bam! &nbsp;It's up on the new The Ghost And The Grace Bandcamp site.<br /><br />Listen to it for free and as much as you want here or at: &nbsp;<a href="http://theghostandthegrace.bandcamp.com./">theghostandthegrace.bandcamp.com.</a> &nbsp;Then if you like it enough, please feel free to purchase it for only a dollar. &nbsp;Support your local artists!<br /><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="100" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer.swf/track=3337035892/size=venti/bgcol=FFFFFF/linkcol=4285BB/" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="never" /><param name="allowNetworking" value="always" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer.swf/track=3337035892/size=venti/bgcol=FFFFFF/linkcol=4285BB/" width="400" height="100" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality=high allowScriptAccess=never allowNetworking=always wmode=transparent bgcolor=#FFFFFF ></embed><noembed><a href="http://theghostandthegrace.bandcamp.com/track/los-angeles">Los Angeles by The Ghost and the Grace</a></noembed></object><br /><div><br /></div>Christopher Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629274850410022241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246320843283832408.post-51393092274432417972010-04-09T13:25:00.000-07:002010-04-09T14:06:59.837-07:00Me + Idiot Pilot = The Tail of a Jet Black SwanHere is some news I'm stoked about: &nbsp;there is a new Idiot Pilot song out and they haven't released a new song since their full length album, Wolves, in 2007. &nbsp;On the record Wolves, the main drummer was Chris Pennie (The Dillinger Escape Plan and Coheed and Cambria) and also featured Travis Barker (Blink-182) for one song. &nbsp;I was hired to play drums for their new song titled The Tail of a Jet Black Swan. &nbsp;I had big shoes to fill and this was my highest profile gig I've had yet, you could say I was a little nervous but mostly excited!<br /><br />Working with both Michael and Daniel was a comfortable experience. &nbsp;They were encouraging and laid back which allowed me to really focus on&nbsp;performing&nbsp;my best. &nbsp;The drums were already laid out and I played the song as written. &nbsp;As we got solid takes of the 'as written' drums I started embellishing and changing a few patterns slightly which is always kinda risky when laying down tracks for an artist because you don't want to get that: 'um, please play the song as written,' &nbsp;which I have definitely gotten before. &nbsp;Mike and Dan are up for feeling out ideas if people have them which is another really amazing benefit while working with them. &nbsp;I was flattered because a few of my ideas made it to the final cut of the song.<br /><br />That being said, check it out! &nbsp;It's streaming on the front page of the Idiot Pilot website. &nbsp;If you like it, you can download it with a suggested donation of a dollar. &nbsp;Listen:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.idiotpilot.com/">here</a>! <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rZYNJDuSprQ/S791deAc8sI/AAAAAAAAAdw/tjDg30cyE_o/s1600/photo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rZYNJDuSprQ/S791deAc8sI/AAAAAAAAAdw/tjDg30cyE_o/s400/photo.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is a picture of my drums for The Tail of a Jet Black Swan tracking session. &nbsp;It's hard to tell but there are 23 microphones around my drum kit!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Christopher Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629274850410022241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246320843283832408.post-18154848789204115632010-02-18T14:23:00.000-08:002010-02-18T14:23:33.948-08:00The Ghost And The Grace's Second Album Sneak PeakIn November and December of 2009 I played drums for Daniel Anderson on his second album for The Ghost And The Grace. &nbsp;We've gone on a few car rides to listen to the new additions and edits for this album and each time it gets a little better. &nbsp;Slowly, more artists are making&nbsp;appearances&nbsp;and it's really starting to become a rich piece of work. &nbsp;Sometime this year this album will be released and it will be awesome. &nbsp;But for now here is a one minute teaser.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/e0_gXt6j0Ts&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/e0_gXt6j0Ts&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Christopher Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629274850410022241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246320843283832408.post-82361120984980766382010-01-30T19:46:00.000-08:002010-02-18T14:11:38.244-08:00UnravelI'm taking some time and learning how to write in a way that is beneficial to my final product. &nbsp;Lately, as anyone learning to do something well, I've been hitting some walls. &nbsp;I've gotten some good insight from some talented close friends and I believe I may have found what will help.<br /><br />As I am taking some time to get familiar with this new way of writing, I have decided to record and post five cover songs. &nbsp;This to me is a great debut project as it's small and it'll get me to finish something. &nbsp;I'll posting the first song: "Unravel" by Bjork. &nbsp;If you haven't heard it, take a listen. &nbsp;The song is a heart string puller about how love can cause false hope with the burden of distance and time.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/80HmLlRB1TQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/80HmLlRB1TQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Christopher Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629274850410022241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246320843283832408.post-17244062763100895282009-12-30T13:22:00.001-08:002009-12-30T14:51:59.505-08:00Reason And RecordOkay I'm shaking off the holidays, got a new job and I've started the flow of income again. Before I can start making musical purchases again, I have to shrink down the pile of bills, sigh. But luckily it isn't too bad - one month ought to do it.<br /><br />Luckily for me, I have a loving, supportive father with similar musical interests as me. So for the holidays I added to my collection Reason with Record with a MIDI keyboard to go along with it. Wowza was I stoked! I've barely gotten my feet wet with it but man-o-man does it make Garage Band look like child's play.<br /><br />So I'll be taking some time to convert the songs I've written and enjoy in Garage Band and and give them a whole new makeover in Record. I have so many options and patches it's fantastic. So whilst I take the next week and do this I'll be soon finally releasing what I'm doing for a band because it's starting to come into focus. That's all for now.Christopher Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629274850410022241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246320843283832408.post-76539755438717144462009-12-02T10:39:00.000-08:002009-12-02T10:50:46.585-08:00The North Wind Blew South<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A little while ago I featured my friend Michelle Newman and her photography site in a post I did. I said there would be shows soon and here one is!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"A collection of photographs by Michelle Newman will be on display at Book Fare Cafe located in Village Books, December 1st - December 31st, 2009</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Opening reception,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Artwalk Friday</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">December 4th at 6 - 8pm</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Book Fare Cafe, Village Books in Fairhaven</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1200 Eleventh ST., Bellingham, WA 98225</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">360.671.2626</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Monday - Saturday 10 am - 9pm</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sunday 11 am - 7 pm"</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Check out her site for more details and awesome photographs: </span></span><a href="http://www.michellealexisnewman.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">www.michellealexisnewman.com</span></span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rZYNJDuSprQ/Sxa2cnI0b9I/AAAAAAAAAOI/4GlHAHnsquA/s400/2009-12-02+10.26.52.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410712604990795730" /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div>Christopher Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629274850410022241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246320843283832408.post-68695974269953788162009-11-27T08:17:00.000-08:002009-11-27T10:19:49.694-08:00The Ghost And The Grace Holiday EP<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Happy Black Friday. I'm not going anywhere!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">There is love all around, it's Christmas! So start busting out Charlie Brown Christmas and those weird claymation Rudolph and Frosty The Snowman movies; Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation, Home Alone (don't watch past the 2nd one!) and make treats and drinks anytime you can. Don't forget to gain holiday weight and then resolution it all off on January 1st. Oh America...you're so weird. But I do love myself some Christmas!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Anyway, remember the post I had recently about drumming on The Ghost And The Grace Holiday EP(scroll down just a little if you don't)? Well now, we get to literally hand you the fruits of our labor. These are three original holiday songs written by the creative brain of TGATG Daniel Anderson. They're a different view of Christmas that you don't hear a lot with an unmistakable Christmas flavor. Definitely original, but I don't want to give everything away...</span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">So here's the Scoop: These are up for you download and we're asking for a suggested donation of $3 but you get to make that choice and pay whatever amount you'd like for the songs. We are also donating part of the proceeds to the fight against breast cancer. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><a href="http://www.theghostandthegrace.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Click here for the path to download "Holiday Spirit Volume 1" by The Ghost And The Grace. Support local artists and we'll be happy to keep creating for you.</span></span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Thank you.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rZYNJDuSprQ/SxAEoT37QUI/AAAAAAAAAOA/Wdiw2oIQrUo/s400/Cover.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408828243048087874" /></span></span></div>Christopher Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629274850410022241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246320843283832408.post-67127239518636777692009-11-22T16:11:00.000-08:002009-11-22T21:14:38.980-08:00"I Can't Find The Books, They Must Be In Lahoya" *<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 305px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rZYNJDuSprQ/Swn3SRgIOgI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/zmoUFcDMhNI/s320/2009-11-21+21.15.20.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407124720942856706" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Saturday night I was privileged enough to witness a fantastic show with The Books. This duo is probably among my top 20 favorite bands. Sadly, I feel they don't quite have the recognition they deserve. But to be fair, they're an acquired taste and usually people ask me who that is when I talk about them. But once you're into them you can really appreciate their fantastic musicianship and crisp production quality. For those of you wanting a new musical experience, they can be heard best on nice speakers and turned up really loud.</span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The duo consists of two men named Nick and Paul, who live, play mainly a guitar(also bass) and cello along with their music that is largely an eclectic collection of samples mixed in with music. I had never looked up YouTube videos of The Books because I wanted to experience the show with no bias<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. They both sit and play along to their music with videos of snippets of old handheld camera footage that they largely collect from thrift stores and the like-which they also create. So if you can imagine, you're witnessing a long artistic piece of music and video. When leaving the venue I felt as if I had just watched a fantastic movie. My brows furrowed and my head slightly tilted as I walked out of the venue thinking: "Damn, that was really, really good."</span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 365px; " src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rZYNJDuSprQ/SwoPnlIUUpI/AAAAAAAAANA/jF0eJInu4ws/s400/2009-11-21+22.20.12.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407151475268014738" /></span></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 343px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rZYNJDuSprQ/SwoPnYqwdWI/AAAAAAAAAM4/DYPdr7LLUsY/s400/2009-11-21+22.21.04.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407151471922804066" /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Earlier that day, since they were playing at Western Washington University, they put on a free lecture at the university. Naturally, I was there and curious on what they'd share with us. It took no time at all to see that Nick and Paul were really nice and very knowledgeable guys. They took us through the process of how they wrote a few of their latest pieces of art; both on the musical and visual side. They shared how they came up with the samples they use and how they build songs around them. It really showed me how confident and generous these guys are because they shared tactics and techniques that probably came with lots of trial and error. Valuable tools and tips for anyone looking to make their art their way of living. They then opened it up for questions and even asked us our opinion on whether they should continue like they normally do and master their next album themselves or give it to Bob Ludwig for mastering(who if you don't know, is one of the biggest names out there for mastering). I haven't found many artists that will ask their fans questions. I found the whole experience really inspiring.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I also wanted to mention how excited I was to see Bellingham's very own Pan Pan open for The Books. I've seen them a handful of times and this was by far the best show yet. Having a professional stage set up and an impressive 17ish piece band to march up behind the crowd and make their way to the stage while playing the opening song really made a lasting impression and an impressive way to start the evening. The rest of their set was brilliant and I'm amazed on how solid everything was. Pan Pan rules. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/thepanpan">Go here to check them out!</a> <a href="http://thebooksmusic.com/">And here for The Books.</a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 215px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rZYNJDuSprQ/SwoQoru7N6I/AAAAAAAAANY/4MDtO-JR57s/s400/2009-11-21+20.04.41.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407152593732056994" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rZYNJDuSprQ/SwoQowENhKI/AAAAAAAAANg/m7AiENo9u5U/s400/2009-11-21+20.06.28.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407152594895078562" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/thepanpan">Yay for Pan Pan.</a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="http://thebooksmusic.com/">Yay for The Books.</a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><iframe allowFullScreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' mozallowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyZAOvD9HzAxNT6AV-IuBBX_RXYAZq6rkhqaTt46wCZTo5JN1VhU61dkKybb-2VihEEa_dxUj3R1jY6S62w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' FRAMEBORDER='0' /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">*Title of this post comes from the song: "If Not Now, Whenever" by The Books off their 2005 release Lost And Safe.</span></span></div></div></div>Christopher Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629274850410022241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246320843283832408.post-88181613794666895262009-11-20T12:54:00.000-08:002009-11-20T14:42:16.685-08:00Pastiche Archive 1 - Pigeons<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I was going through some old videos of the band I used to have called Pastiche and found this little gem called Pigeons off the second EP, Rabbits, that we released. We rushed to get this song down for the show and it shows for the first little attempt there. I left the mess up part in because it really shows a cool side that you don't normally get to see in bands. It's not usually a great moment but we pulled together and showed why we wanted to play the song so bad...cause it rocks. If anyone would like this song or any other that we released, let me know and I'll be happy to send it to you for free. Hope you like it.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><iframe allowFullScreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' mozallowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxDAN5P1Dx8KzrYa2epbjfSYsB6ZkyEPtgwFnO21cYV8vKpOpikHmPTxcRp5wxFBcyvISWqGtTzGR6y5j412A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' FRAMEBORDER='0' />Christopher Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629274850410022241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246320843283832408.post-15264507052260926272009-11-12T12:11:00.000-08:002009-11-15T00:33:09.091-08:00TGATG Drum Recording Session<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Well as I stated before, I have moved to drums for The Ghost And The Grace. Due to the switch, we're figuring out the live situation. Doesn't mean that we're twiddling our thumbs. Drew Fitchette and Sarah Jerns are keeping their own bands alive and well in Rooftops and Pan Pan. Both bands have great shows coming up. Pan Pan will be opening for The Books on November 21st. So mark your calendar cause that show is going to be great.</span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This past weekend I went into the Bayside recording studio in Bellingham to record drum tracks for a Christmas album Daniel is releasing for The Ghost And The Grace. But most of the tracking was for the upcoming full length that is in the works. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rZYNJDuSprQ/SvyeIujXuGI/AAAAAAAAAK4/9tRjOMcxu7s/s400/13669_1124869253481_1579620073_30296589_2324605_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403367525710280802" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The first day I spent 12 exhausting hours in the studio and we still needed another day to finish the takes. The second day we spent about 7 hours but we got 10 songs done. All with multiple takes and including one "Keith Moon take" for most of the songs. These entailed that I play along to the song as normal but also to have no fear of playing a ridiculous amount of fills and flash like Keith Moon of The Who. It definitely worked well for the most part and channeled a difference in my creativity.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">So 10 songs down and 8 more to go. I'll be updating once I get those songs finished. But for now, enjoy this video of highlights of the two days of drum tracking.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; white-space: pre; "><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FkJ3_ilDeX0&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FkJ3_ilDeX0&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></span></div>Christopher Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629274850410022241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246320843283832408.post-87582730908878099832009-10-22T19:28:00.000-07:002009-11-06T09:54:07.475-08:00Photographer - Michelle Newman<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I'm excited to preview the skills of local Bellingham photographer Michelle Newman. I was fortunate enough to work with her on her 'Scream' project in the spring 2009; which is where I got the picture at the top of my blog. She is currently attending Western Washington University where she studying photography and fine art. She's been in art galleries around Bellingham and later this year she'll be the featured artist at a gallery as one of her final projects at Western.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">She has a rather slick site you need to visit and see a lot more of her work in high quality images at </span></span><a href="http://www.michellealexisnewman.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">www.michellealexisnewman.com</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. Take a look and be on the look out for her shows around town. Here are a few examples of her work.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rZYNJDuSprQ/SvRbDuM2BUI/AAAAAAAAAKg/OP97Hf8eS_s/s400/chris+1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401041972623705410" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rZYNJDuSprQ/SvRbwWvYvZI/AAAAAAAAAKo/-7J4HU7Ws4U/s400/chris+3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401042739420249490" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 263px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rZYNJDuSprQ/SvRcMsVSI6I/AAAAAAAAAKw/lFEnwNMTdoI/s400/chris+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401043226252682146" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Christopher Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629274850410022241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246320843283832408.post-16542696759992965862009-10-18T19:17:00.000-07:002009-11-07T10:08:39.612-08:00Bullet With Butterfly Wings covered by The Ghost And The Grace<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Here is a real different cover of Bullet With Butterfly Wings by The Smashing Pumpkins. This cover is by The Ghost And The Grace (TGATG). I usually don't like when artists do covers of the Pumpkins because it always fails to pass even my lowest expectation standards since the Pumpkins are by far my favorite band of all time. I still have yet to purchase or even bother taking for free an album of artists that has done Pumpkins covers. To be honest and fair, it's because I have such a biased love for the original compositions that Billy Corgan put together with the Pumpkins. On the other hand, since I've gotten to work with Daniel Anderson quite a bit playing live in TGATG I've learned there isn't much that I don't like coming from Daniel and even with his other band Idiot Pilot. So when I heard this was posted, you can see why I was so anxious to give it a listen.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I noticed that it was that it's a little shorter than the original and the tempo is slower which gave me a fun project to compare songs back to back to see what was cut out. Only took one listen through each to realize that the guitar and drum solo duet (which was my favorite part of the original) is cut. But since TGATG is more focused on tasteful compositions and not about shredding, it really made sense to not include it. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">After a while of listening, my favorite difference is that it really sounds like a TGATG song. With the banjo covering the melodies while the guitars and strings usually covering the background chords and/or tasteful effects. There are also hand claps and of course the infamous crash cymbal that Daniel loves putting in high powered choruses. Personally, I think it's a great accomplishment to cover the song and have it sound like your own 'sound' while still making it undeniably recognizable to the original. He even has a scream in there which both artists are both known bit for among their fans.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">This version has a haunting and floaty sound while the original has more of an raw and edgier sound as most of you probably know. On the TGATG website Daniel mentions that he did this because fall is favorite season and that this fit the times and the upcoming holiday Halloween. With that said I think overall, this is job well done. Is this the first Smashing Pumpkins cover that I like? Well let's just say I guess it helps to have good artists cover good artists.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">You can listen to it here but you can download it for free at the </span></span><a href="http://www.theghostandthegrace.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">TGATG website</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">. What are you waiting for? It's free!</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre; font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:10px;"><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/n4Oj5BUQWPg&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/n4Oj5BUQWPg&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object></span><object width="560" height="340"></object></span></p>Christopher Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629274850410022241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246320843283832408.post-68680011002170322082009-10-08T00:57:00.000-07:002009-10-08T01:05:22.385-07:00How Far You Go Music Video<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Here is the latest video from the Ghost and the Grace. It's pretty awesome with the Sifl and Olly theme. Apparently there is a reference of 20 bands in there. I couldn't quite guess them all but apparently if you can, then you could win the album for free. Sweet! </span></span><div><br /></div><div><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/64DSJ5Zv8Kc&amp;color1=0xb1b1b1&amp;color2=0xcfcfcf&amp;hl=en&amp;feature=player_embedded&amp;fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/64DSJ5Zv8Kc&amp;color1=0xb1b1b1&amp;color2=0xcfcfcf&amp;hl=en&amp;feature=player_embedded&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div>Christopher Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629274850410022241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246320843283832408.post-79472855523393831512009-09-28T20:10:00.000-07:002009-11-07T10:10:39.089-08:00From Guitar to Drums<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This has been a very intense month for personal family reasons so that's why I haven't posted too much. Things are getting back to normal now, so here you go:</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Ghost and the Grace has been evolving a bit. Which is great to see. Daniel is in LA working some networking magic and since the two shows we've played, the band has 'gelled' so to speak. Songs are coming together a bit quicker and I think everyone is really enjoying everyone. No stupid drama. Rad.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But I said evolving and what I mean is that I am going to moving to drums after our show at the Nightlight on October 24th. The current drummer is making a life change and moving to Portland. So I stepped up and got the challenge awarded to me. This was a little scary for me to accept at first because the drum parts if you haven't heard them (</span></span><a href="http://www.theghostandthegrace.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and if you haven't you should!</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">), are tough and if you're not tight and really well practiced you're just not gonna make it at all. I know when I've been at my best I could handle these parts but I haven't been practicing daily for a long time now. So my goal is hitting the practice pad two hours a day if I can. Sadly I don't have a place to actually set up and play my drums but that hasn't stopped me before. So...I figure I have a little over a month to prepare for this; I'll be ready. Also, as much as I've excelled at the guitar in a short period of time I would definitely benefit this band better sitting on my drum throne (that's what the seat of a drum set is actually called, that usually confuses people).</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">On another note, this will be freeing up some of my guitar playing time to writing instead of learning. I had to spend a lot of time learning, rearranging and building muscle memory with the guitar. I don't have to do any of that on drums; so after my muscles get back in shape I can work on just getting the parts down. So what that means is I'll be working on my EP more and get some news posted about that soon. I'm stoked!</span></span></div><div><br /></div>Christopher Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629274850410022241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246320843283832408.post-53810331640492890172009-09-10T14:07:00.001-07:002009-11-07T10:17:59.050-08:00The Guitar Project 2<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">For now my guitar modifications are complete. I am very satisfied with the way it all turned out. It stays in tune and after I fixed up the string height and intonation the guitar really sings and stays singing. I also got the pedals so tuning on the fly is now possible as well as getting amazing tone with the Zvex Super Duper 2 in 1. I now understand what guitar players mean by getting rich tones by cranking up their guitar. Next I'll be probably putting in new pick ups. But I am waiting so I can learn a little more about them. I keep reading about people getting mismatched pickups and degrading their sound. Right now mine are fine and in the meantime I am reading how they work with your guitar and all that good stuff. This post is short and sweet. Here are some pics of the completed modifications</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">.</span></span><div><br /></div><div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rZYNJDuSprQ/Sqlunw0wUAI/AAAAAAAAACA/0KvU2KbISZk/s400/2009-09-07+15.12.20.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379952859270893570" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rZYNJDuSprQ/Sqlunb7qxdI/AAAAAAAAAB4/zQXR1NiARPg/s1600-h/2009-09-07+15.12.04.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rZYNJDuSprQ/Sqlunb7qxdI/AAAAAAAAAB4/zQXR1NiARPg/s400/2009-09-07+15.12.04.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379952853662746066" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rZYNJDuSprQ/Sqlum2VSJeI/AAAAAAAAABw/o2WQ6SnOT-Y/s1600-h/2009-09-07+15.07.44.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rZYNJDuSprQ/Sqlum2VSJeI/AAAAAAAAABw/o2WQ6SnOT-Y/s400/2009-09-07+15.07.44.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379952843569636834" /></a><br /><br /></div>Christopher Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629274850410022241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246320843283832408.post-68259565267316638022009-08-20T23:12:00.000-07:002009-08-21T09:35:20.734-07:00The Guitar Project<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">So being in this band not only has been a lot of fun but I've learned so much about the guitar. I used to not like it all that much - or was rather indifferent about it. Lately it takes up a lot of my thoughts during the day. I have a Mexican Telecaster Custom which you if you know anything about guitars that's enough to say. But if you don't, then it's a middle class guitar good for practicing and for someone growing up to the next steps of being a guitarist. I already feel growing out of it. What I mean is that the quality of the guitar isn't cutting it anymore. To the extent where I am getting a little embarrassed about it when after a rehearsing a song, my band mates sometimes say something like: 'that was good but someone was out of tune a little...' It's almost always me. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">After doing a lot of reading, talking to my dad (an amazing lifetime guitar player) and watching various youtube videos, I've learned what can improve the quality and how to make solid improvements by getting some upgraded parts on the guitar itself. So I've ordered a new bridge and new tuners to get the guitar in tune with it's self all the time. I went about as high quality you can go with these improvements and I've also gone for a very visually appealing makeover as well. Mostly black with white accents. I haven't gotten all the improvements yet but so far it's been looking good. I'll posting some pics as it comes along. But for now here is a stock picture of what the original guitar looks like. Mine looked the exact same. </span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I also ordered two pedals. A tuner pedal...I mean I had to if I've got two shows coming up next month. Also the pedal that I posted a video of a few posts back called the Super Duper 2 in 1. That is gonna totally transform my sound and I can't wait to get it next week and try it out. So here is a pic of my guitar before any modifications.</span></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 132px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rZYNJDuSprQ/So7LJasEy_I/AAAAAAAAABo/puf4Tr5OChE/s400/fen0137500.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372454768143027186" /></div>Christopher Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629274850410022241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246320843283832408.post-13967711626919345742009-08-10T10:36:00.000-07:002009-11-07T10:11:57.935-08:00TGATG upcoming shows!<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Practices for TGATG are going well. There is a certain element missing though. But we all are feeling it and we're digging to try and find it. It's getting close, I can feel it. But the songs are really coming together other than that. We have two shows booked. One at the El Corazon in Seattle and one at Whaam in Bellingham. They are on the 11th and 12th of September. I've been in two bands and I've never played at the El Corazon. So I am definitely pretty stoked and I hope if you're reading this you'll come along! I've never performed playing guitar so it's gonna be an </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">all around cool experience. I do miss playing the drums and Daniel really makes some tasty drum parts in TGATG. But guitar is awesome too. So that being said, here is the flyer for the Bellingham show at Whaam. Created by Daniel himself.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, -webkit-fantasy;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana, -webkit-fantasy;"><br /></span></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 259px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rZYNJDuSprQ/SoBdCqbE6hI/AAAAAAAAABg/Rh5pXRuhpVg/s400/3793423473_b7669d3abb_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368393056154610194" /></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Christopher Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629274850410022241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246320843283832408.post-64712238160013474142009-08-08T01:08:00.000-07:002009-11-07T10:12:37.533-08:00The Curious Case of Inspiration<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Now I don't see myself doing many movie reviews here on this blog. Only because I am fairly detached from movies and don't a very knowledgeable background on them. But it is a very amazing form of art and every once in a while I stumble across one that really moves me. Tonight I watched The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and it was one of those movies that really struck me more than other well done movies do. I love watching a movie and not being reminded at all that this is just a movie. It was so real and believable that I felt like I was really watching this story unravel in front of me. I didn't want it to end and when I forget it's a movie then it's always a real memorable experience for me. Also, it was largely about the people you encounter in life and how you are just another person they are encountering. That most people won't be there for very long and that even those very special ones will one day have to part. Bittersweet. Probably the most intriguing emotion... or series of emotions that I've experienced. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Now, I realize it's just a story but every character had such a rich life and experience. I'm not saying people these days don't but it's so dependent on money and death and go, go, go. Expansion, growth, be bigger than life all the time. Every single thing outside your home seems is there for money. Some new trick to hone you in to buy their latest and greatest thing. I am guilty of this as well when it comes to giving my attention and doing my best to intrigue you to listen to me. But it really sparked some inspiration for the next move of change for me. Even more reason to stick to what you love, keep those you care for the most closest and scrape off all the excess. Keep it simple. </span></span></div>Christopher Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629274850410022241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246320843283832408.post-45559116553651436482009-07-30T11:41:00.000-07:002009-11-07T10:13:39.324-08:00iMacs = A mansion of doorways...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hey so very exciting news! I've got my computer now and it's more then I could of dreamed. The last couple days we've been getting to know each other and it's gonna be a good relationship. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">With that HUGE event out of the way, I now have a professional tool to get many doors open for me. So...what this means is that I'll be able to actually start doing the things I dream. Including, as I had said earlier, this blog; which will be focused on the arts. Both on mine and other artists. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I've been doing some experimentation with imovie and I found a new thing I love to do. It's fun to put it things together with that program. As promised, I am going to posting the review of </span></span><a href="http://www.theghostandthegrace.com/store/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Behold! A Pale Horse</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> by </span></span><a href="http://www.theghostandthegrace.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Ghost and the Grace</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. It's turning out more in depth and a much higher quality than I originally planned, which keeps putting off the release of it but it's gonna be well worth it. So within a couple few days it's be up! Talk to you soon!</span></span></div>Christopher Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629274850410022241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246320843283832408.post-82067389124634098922009-07-17T14:11:00.001-07:002009-11-07T10:14:12.083-08:00Super Duper 2 in 1<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I hate not having a computer, it makes it very difficult to add on here. The saving for an iMac is still going strong and I'm getting some things together. So close I can taste it. I don't think anyone reads this yet anyway. :) But soon it'll be all good. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ghost and the Grace practices have been going remarkably well. I mean it should cause we kinda have an all star Bellingham band. Hand picked so to speak. But it's really awesome playing guitar and being confident with my playing. Oh and Daniel has his album all done and has copies available. You get yourself over to </span></span><a href="http://www.theghostandthegrace.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Ghost and the Grace</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> web site and order a copy. Or at least listen to the songs he has posted. It's quite and album if I may so myself. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So I've been looking around to see what could really make my guitar sound like audible orgasms. While pondering the options I remembered back in the Euphoric days, Leif would hit this pedal from time to time and it just made all of his other pedals sound like shit. I remembered it for that and the name. It was called the "Super Hard On", which I think is hilarious and fairly appropriate considering it made his sound so amazingly bold and tasty. So with that I dared to Google 'Super Hard On' which I know, was a dangerous thing to Google. I almost set the parental settings to strict but... I didn't. Instead I put 'pedal' after it and it seemed to do the trick. Anyway, where I am getting to is that I found in my opinion, the god of guitar pedals at </span></span><a href="http://www.zvex.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">www.zvex.com</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. There are so many amazing pedals that I'll probably eventually get but first, there is a new version of the above mentioned pedal called the "Super Duper 2 in 1". Anyway, it's on the list and it will be mine fairly soon. Yes. Enjoy.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre; "><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5mTXLs0X6hA&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5mTXLs0X6hA&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></div>Christopher Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629274850410022241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246320843283832408.post-52995920479099787592009-06-20T19:14:00.000-07:002009-11-07T10:15:04.969-08:00The Beginning<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I have to say how excited I am to get this all up and running! I have made the push to make music my first responsibility for a source of well being and well...income. I know the doubts and the realities. But this blog will help with all that</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></div></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Currently I am writing songs for a band I am in the midst of creating. As far as the layout and name of the group and overall premise of it I am not ready to release it yet. It's been a project that I've had in mind for sometime and I'm just getting some of the bigger pieces out of the way. This is new for me in the sense of switching up the instrumentation of what I am playing. I've always played drums in </span></span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/euphoric"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#339999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Euphoric</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and then </span></span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/musicbypastiche"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#339999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Pastiche</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> but this time I'll be taking on the guitar and voice. Like getting confident with any new instrument, it's been quite the struggle. I've always been self sufficient learning a new instrument but I was really hitting some frustrating walls with playing and singing as well as writing songs that I would be proud to show. So a couple months ago I did what so many of us do these days... I hit up Craigslist. Now through experience I know the Bellingham Craigslist can be pretty lame but I mean come on, I'm still gonna look. I looked in the music section and it seemed to know I was looking that day cause I saw an ad that said:</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial;"><h1 class="ha" style=" margin-top: 12px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 10px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background: inherit; border-right: inherit; font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:16px;"><span id=":x7" class="hP" style="padding-right: 10px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Guitar Lessons From Major Label Musician (Bellingha</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><wbr>m)</span></span></span></h1><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">H</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">mm... reading the ad really intrigued me and the person writing it was one of the two members from </span></span><a href="http://www.idiotpilot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Idiot Pilot</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Which as some of you know is one of the few bands coming from Bellingham that have gone far with their music. Anyway, long story short I met up with</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.howlongtosingthissong.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Daniel Anderson</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the following week and I've been seeing him since. He has really broken my shell so to speak in song writing. Daniel has helped me shape and focus my writing and it is continuing to blossom. Stoked to share it in the near future with you all! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The second point I was getting to with this is that he's asked me play in his solo project </span></span><a href="http://www.theghostandthegrace.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#339999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Ghost and the Grace</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. I'll be playing guitar which so fantastic! So far we've had two practices and it's getting better. More on that to come soon. You can get more official news on the Ghost and the Grace by clicking on the above link. His album, Behold! A Pale Horse is really amazing and soon I'll be posting a review of the album so you can see what I mean. You can listen to some of his complete tracks on there and if you like it, purchase a copy! Well fantastic, that's it for now, check back soon for the review of Behold</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">! A Pale Horse and other fine things.</span></span></div><div><br /></div></span>Christopher Newtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09629274850410022241noreply@blogger.com0